Middletown High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Middletown, CT)

Page 8 text:

When we were attending Middletown High School, it had a student body of approximately 500. That was before additions were built on the school the present additions to the south and to the west were constructed after we had graduated. The principal at that time was Bull Woolsey , who, as his nickname implies, was rather a rough character, but nevertheless a fine man and educator. The Vice Principal was Julia Brazos, who had a tre- mendous influence upon the lives of us both and on all of her students. A Distinguished Alumnus Remembers In those days not many people went on to college. The curriculum was much simpler then than it is today, and not as good. It could be divided in two categories; commercial course, which prepared young women and men for business life after graduation, and the classical course, in which great emphasis was placed upon English Literature. History and Mathe- matics. the latter being largely plane and solid Geometry and A Igebra. The Past Gives Way

Page 7 text:

Thank you for this opportunity to reflect upon Mid- dletown High School. As a former student at Middletown High, it is with mixed emotions that witness the closing of doors on a facility which has served the City and surrounding communities for three quarters of a century. All who were privileged to have attended Middletown High School should never forget that this school is the oldest and first High School in the State of Connecti- cut. I'm sure that many citizens in the Middlesex County will agree with me that Middletown High holds many fond memories which filled our lived during those important years. I can vividly recall the enthusiasm and excitement generated in me the first day I attended Middletown High. feel that among both the students and faculty, legends were born in M iddletown High and will re- main forever. Despite the sadness in closing an era in the City's his- tory. it is with pride that we can look to the opening of the new Middletown High School with the sincere wish that it too will play a meaningful role in the lives of our young adults. (T M. ANTHONY sbona Mayor A Building Takes Shape A Championship Team

Page 9 text:

In the commercial course, emphasis was placed upon typing, stenography and basic arithmetic. There was no manual training of any kind such as there is today. The demands upon the high school were much less than they are today. Not nearly so many young people attended high school then as now. Our education level seems to have been raised substantially over the years, meeting the requirements not only of the so-called Ivy League Colleges, but of the Stale Colleges and the Community Colleges as well. The whole base of education has broadened tremendously over the last 50 years; a highly desirable thing. Over the years the school has produced some outstanding women and men graduates, not all of whom ever attended a college, but became leaders in the business and social life of the communities where they went to live.